[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

County Championship, Division One

vs Durham

Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street

Day One: The Pears won the toss and put Durham in to bat on a cool, overcast final day of June that somewhat reflected Worcestershire's fortunes in the last three weeks. But those fortunes looked to be changing in a first session that began with Nathan Smith removing Scott Borthwick LBW in the first over, the first of two scalps for him as the hosts were reduced to 100-5 at lunch. But the presence of Ben Stokes in the Durham line-up caused problems in the afternoon as the England skipper racked up an aggressive half-century before Ben Allison had him top-edging a short ball behind; that opened the floodgate which saw Durham's remaining wickets fall in quick succession as they were skittled for 190 in time for an early tea. However, despite a fairly promising start, the Pears ultimately fared no better at the crease, especially after a rain break disrupted the rhythm of the innings and then left our batsmen toiling against pinpoint bowling under floodlights. Kashif Ali managed a battling half-century in a defiant rearguard action, but ultimately ran out of partners as the last five wickets fell for just thirteen runs, leaving Worcs all out for 112, trailing by 78. And yet there was still time for the Durham top order to fold a second time as they finished an astonishing twenty-three-wicket day 33-3.

Day Two: After a washed-out morning session, Worcestershire got right back to work with Durham's two nightwatchmen, Peter Siddle and Matthew Potts, removed by Tom Taylor and Nathan Smith respectively, leaving the hosts five down as rain halted play until well after tea. Upon resumption, the Pears kept chipping away with wickets until a stubborn partnership between Colin Ackermann and Ben Stokes - a fairly ludicrous pair to be batting for the eighth wicket - pushed the home side's lead up above 200. However, with the overs ticking down to close, Taylor struck decisively; first finding Ackermann's outside edge and having him caught behind for 40, then concluding the day by banging in a short ball that simply failed to bounce, instead rocketing at shin-height into the stumps, leaving all three sticks splayed and Ben Stokes on his hands and knees, his team 148-9 at close, the lead 226.

Day Three: Worcestershire needed the early breakthrough, and got it courtesy of Ben Allison with just four runs added to the overnight total, leaving Durham 152 all out and the target at a daunting 231. Another bright start hit a brick wall when Stokes and Siddle got into a groove in the half-hour before lunch, removing Gareth Roderick, Jake Libby and Rob Jones to leave the Pears 87-3 at lunch, requiring 144 more to win. The state of the pitch hitherto and the quality of the Durham attack still rendered that a big ask, and though it became slowly apparent that the track was offering a bit less to the bowlers, it still required terrific concentration and application from Kashif Ali and Adam Hose - making a half-century apiece - to whittle the equation down to 37. But with Hose then caught behind, a somewhat jumpy Ethan Brookes had to come out and weather an early examination before tea was taken on 208-4, with just 23 needed. After the interval, Durham gave it their last throw of the dice; Stokes and Siddle at either end, targeting Brookes and drawing outside and inside edges which whizzed through gaps in the slips and past the stumps to the boundary. Lady Luck was, for once, wearing Pear-green; and having made his highest first-class score, the young man struck the winning runs to give the Pears their first ever Championship win at Chester-le-Street.

Worcestershire WIN by six wickets

The Verdict: It may have taken a little longer than we initially hoped, and come about with the aid of some good fortune - the pitch flattened out just in time for the chase, the Durham bowlers spent the final afternoon sending down a shocking array of no-balls and other extras, and one or two close LBW shouts at crucial moments might well have gone the other way - but make no mistake; for their trials, their tribulations and their sheer hard bloody graft over the last three months, Worcestershire deserved this win. It is, of course, only half of the job done with regards to the broader Championship campaign, but it's also the best possible springboard into the run-in seven weeks from now. There's life in the old girl yet.